Telephone book holder

ABSTRACT

A book container employs metal rods interleaved among the pages of a book or passed through the spine of a book to hold the book within hinged, semi-rigid covers which are spring-biased to a closed position. The container depends subjacently from a shelf and parallel to the edge of the shelf by means of a doublypivoting bracket. The bracket allows the container to be revolved onto the shelf and rotated to be positioned for normal viewing of the book. The pivot shaft includes a transverse radial pin riding an annular cam, the weight of the container when depending from the bracket causing the pin to traverse the cam surface and rotate the container and return it parallel to the shelf edge.

United States Patent Nawman Jan. 14, 1975 [54] TELEPHONE BOOK HOLDERFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [75] lhvehtorl Rollie Nawmah, OaklandCalif- 463,234 7/1928 Germany 281/47 Assigneez Benner-Nawman Inc. walnut1,256,845 5/1959 P1111106" 281/47 Creek, Calif. P E J F kl F rlmaryxammerran 1n oss [22] Flled' 1974 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-HarrisZimmerman 21 Appl. N0.2 432,866

Related U.S. Application Data [57] ABSTRACT I [62] Division of Ser. No.290,134, Sept. 18, 1972, Pat. A. book container employs metal rodsinterleaved No. 3,791,677. 1 among the pages of a book or passed throughthe spine of a book to hold the book within hinged semi- [52] U.S. Cl.248/447, 281/45 rigid covers which are spring-biased to a closed posi-[51] Int. Cl B42d 17/00 tion. The container depends subjacently from ashelf [58] Field of Search 248/447; 281/45, 4 and parallel to the edgeof the shelf by means of a 50 doubly-pivoting bracket. The bracketallows the container to be revolved onto the shelf and rotated to be[56] References Cited positioned for normal viewing of the book. Thepivot UNITED STATES PATENTS shaft includes a transverse radial pinriding an annular 1567133 12/1925 Goldstine 281/45 the Weight of thecontainer when depending 2:258:306 10/1941 Trollen 281/45 from thebracket Causing the P to traverse the cam 2,839,064 6/1958 Haskin 281/47Surface and rotate thecontainer and return it Parallel 3,028,701 4/1962Popper 248 447 to the shelf edge. 3,275,279 9/1966 Caldwell et al.248/447 3,617,074 11/1971 Rigolini 281/49 9 Clam, 13 Drawmg Flguresmemio 3.860.212

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TELEPHONE BOOK HOLDER REFERENCE TO PREVIOUS APPLICATION This applicationis a division of my application Ser. No. 290,134 now U.S. Pat. No.3,791,677, filed Sept. 18, 1972, in Group 351.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Reference books which receive frequent usehave often been encased in protective enclosures. These books, such astelephone directories, catalogues, dictionaries, and the like, must beprotected from wear while at the same time being readily available forviewing. And, because these books may be valuable or difficult toreplace, they must be protected'from theft. Telephone directories inparticular, because they are often subject to theft and to extreme wearconditions, must be housed in a protective container.

These directories, which are usually situated within the confines of atelephone booth, must be stored in a manner which does not interferewith the use of the telephone, yet must be available to the user. Priorart devices, which typically hold the directory in a hardcover enclosuresuspended from a chain, are difficult to use and readily removed bythieves and vandals. Other devices, which pivot from below a shelf, holdthe directory perpendicular to the shelf and jutting into the spaceoccupied by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a bookcontainer 4 which stores a book within semi-rigid hinged covers whichcompletely enclose and protect the book. The book is held within thecontainer by means of metal rods which are either interleaved among thepages of the book or passed through the spine of the book. The

I container depends subjacently from a shelf or other horizontal memberby means of a shaft secured perpendicularly to the spine of thecontainer. The shaft is held within a cylindrical opening in a pivotbracket by a ratdial pin through the shaft which impinges on-an annularcam member within the cylindrical opening. The weight of the hangingcontainer causes the radial pin to ride the cam surface, rotating theshaft and container to a predetermined storage orientation.

The pivot bracket is joined to a supporting arm by a second pivot shafttransverse to the first shaft, allowing the container to be revolvedfrom the storage position below the shelf to a viewing position on theshelf surface, while being rotated to the proper viewing orientation.The hinged covers may then be opened to view the book. After the bookhas been satisfactorily perused by the user, the hinged covers, whichare spring biased, close to protect the book. The container is thenrevolved to below the shelf, where its weight causes it to rotate out ofthe way of the user.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present invention employed ina telephone booth.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a side view ofthe present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the cammed pivot. FIG. 5 is a frontsectional view of the cammed pivot. FIG. 6 is a top view of the cammedpivot of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 1, the bookcontainer 15 of the present invention typically may be employed in atelephone booth 16 containing a telephone 17 and a shelf 18. Thecontainer depends vertically from the shelf and, as shown in FIG. 2,parallel to the edge of the shelf. The vertical pivot 20 allows thecontainer to be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise perpendicularly tothe edge of the shelf, as shown in phantom line in FIG. 2.

The container is secured to the underside of the shelf by means of abracket 22 which is bolted or otherwise affixed to the shelf. The end ofthe bracket projecting from the shelf is formed into a hinge 23 with thehinge pin horizontal and parallel to the shelf edge. This hinge allowsthe container 15 to be revolved from thestorage position shown in FIG. 3to a position above the shelf where the book within the container may beused. At the same time the container may be rotated about vertical pivot20 to properly orient the book within for read- The vertical pivot 20consists of a housing 24 with a cylindrical passage 25 therethrough, asshown in FIG. 4. cylindrical hole 19 transverse and radial to passage.25 receives the hinge pin of hinge 23. Within the passage 25 is anannular cam 26 with opposed spiral edges 27, as shown in FIG. 7. Atransverse slot 28 cooperates with a pin 29 passed through a hole 30 inthe housing to secure the cam vertically and rotationally in place. Apivot shaft 32 received within the cam carries a radial riding pin 34which bears on the cam surface.

When the container is initially revolved to below the shelf, the pivotshaft 32 is in the position shown in phantom in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5. Theweight of the book and container causes the shaft 32 to descendvertically downward within the cam 26, the riding pin 34 riding on thecam surface and rotating the shaft either clockwise or counterclockwise,as shown in FIG. 7. The descent and rotation continues until the pin 34comes to rest in the slot 36 of the cam; as shown in FIG. 5. Thecontainer 15 secured to the lower end of the shaft 32 is thus rotatedparallel to the shelf, as shown in FIG. 2.

It should be noted that the shaft 32 and container 15 will always cometo rest in the same position. And as shown in FIG. 6, despite theinitial orientation of the container when revolved to below the shelf,the action of the cam and riding pin will return the container todesired position parallel to the shelf. Further, the doubly-pivotingbracket assembly, when properly installed, is virtually tamper-proof.

The lower end of the shaft 32 terminates in a square end 37 which isreceived in a square hole in the back of the container 15. A bolt orrivet or other means of securance is received through the hole in theback of the book and secured within an axial hole 38 in the shaft 32,affixing the container to the shaft. If it is desirable in a particularshelf or counter installation that the container comes to restperpendicular to the edge of the structure, the container may be securedto the shaft in an orientation 90 from that shown in FIG. 4. If otherorientations are desired the box end 37 of the shaft 32 may be modifiedaccordingly.

The container of the present invention comprises covers 41 and 41 hingedto a back support 42. Cover 40 has sides 43 which protect the books 46and fit within the sides 44 of the cover 41 to form a protectiveenclosure (as shown in FIG. 10) for the book. The covers are preferablyformed of a stiff, flexible material which maintains its shape yet canwithstand the bending of normal use. Within the back support and securedthereto is a rigid, arcuate spine 45, as shown in FIG. 11. The arcuateshape not only provides strength to the spine, but also allows the bookenclosed within the container to be opened easily. The spine carrieslongitudinal strengthening members 47 which are formed in partialcylindrical crosssection, and longitudinal strengthening member 48 alongthe center of the spine.

A flange 49 projecting perpendicularly from the spine has spaced holes50 therethrough with support rods 52 depending through the holes, asshown in FIG. 13, and being received by similarly spaced holes in acooperating flange projecting from the other end of the spine. Thesesupport rods may pass through the backing of the book 46 or may beinterleaved among its pages to securely affix the book within thecontainer 15. The ends of the support rods may be bent or expanded tosecure them to the flanges and thus prevent removal of the book from thecontainer. 7

The covers 40 and 41 are hinged to the container by means of opposedlongitudinal hinges 53 and 54. These hinges, which may be formedintegrally with the spine 45 or otherwise secured to the spine, areformed of concentric cylindrical sectional members. As shown in detailin FIG. 12, the fixed portion of each hinge com+ prises an arcuateflange 55, and an inner arcuate member 56 spaced from the spine bysupport 57. The rotatable portion of the hinge comprises arcuate members59-and 60, spaced apart by support 61. The members 59 and 60 arerotatably received within member 56 and flange 55 respectively, thuseliminating any translational movement of the rotatable portion. Theedge 62 of the member 56 limits the closed position of the cover 41which is secured to the rotatable portion, while the edge 63 0f themember 56 limits the extent of the open position of the cover 41. Endpieces 65 and 66 secured to the spine of the container eliminate anylongitudinal movement of the hinges. Springs 67, secured between thefixed and rotatable portions of the hinges, bias the covers 40 and 41 tothe closed position, assuring that the book within the container willremain protected when not in use.

Thus the present invention has disclosed and described a novel means ofdisplaying oft-used reference material which assures that the referencematerial will be protected and stored unobtrusively when not in use, andwill not easily by stolen or vandalized.

I claim:

1. A container for storing and displaying reference material, comprisinga spine member, a pair of opposed fixed hinge members extendingthe-length of said spine member, a pair of opposed cover members, eachof said cover members including a movable hinge member joined theretoand pivotally secured to one of said fixed hinge members, each of saidfixed hinge members including first and second arcuate members extendinglinearly the length of said spine member, and a first web portionjoining said first and second arcuate members.

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein each of said movablehinge members includes third and fourth opposed arcuate members, and asecond web portion joining said third and fourth arcuate members.

3. The container according to claim 1, further including resilient meansfor biasing said cover members together, said resilient means extendingbetween each of said first web portions and the respective movable hingemember. I

4. The container according to claim 3, wherein said resilient meansextends between said first and second web portions of cooperating hingemembers.

5. The container according to claim 2, wherein said fourth arcuatemember is slidably received within said first arcuate member, and saidthird arcuate member is slidably received within said second arcuatemember.

6. The container according to claim 2, wherein said first arcuate memberhas a radius of curvature greater than that of said second, third andfourth arcuate members.

7. The container according to claim 2, wherein said fourth arcuatemember has a radius of curvature member are slidably received withinsaid annular gap. l= v l

1. A container for storing and displaying reference material, comprisinga spine member, a pair of opposed fixed hinge members extending thelength of said spine member, a pair of opposed cover members, each ofsaid cover members including a movable hinge member joined thereto andpivotally secured to one of said fixed hinge members, each of said fixedhinge members including first and second arcuate members extendinglinearly the length of said spine member, and a first web portionjoining said first and second arcuate members.
 2. The containeraccording to claim 1, wherein each of said movable hinge membersincludes third and fourth opposed arcuate members, and a second webportion joining said third and fourth arcuate members.
 3. The containeraccording to claim 1, further including resilient means for biasing saidcover members together, said resilient means extending between each ofsaid first web portions and the respective Movable hinge member.
 4. Thecontainer according to claim 3, wherein said resilient means extendsbetween said first and second web portions of cooperating hinge members.5. The container according to claim 2, wherein said fourth arcuatemember is slidably received within said first arcuate member, and saidthird arcuate member is slidably received within said second arcuatemember.
 6. The container according to claim 2, wherein said firstarcuate member has a radius of curvature greater than that of saidsecond, third and fourth arcuate members.
 7. The container according toclaim 2, wherein said fourth arcuate member has a radius of curvaturegreater than that of said second and third arcuate members.
 8. Thecontainer according to claim 2, wherein said third and fourth arcuatemembers define an annular space therebetween, and portions of saidsecond arcuate member are slidably received within said annular space.9. The container according to claim 2, wherein said first and secondarcuate members define an annular gap therebetween, and portions of saidfourth arcuate member are slidably received within said annular gap.